Main Aim(s) of the Unit:

One unit aim is to provide students with the underpinning knowledge for the effective operations management of the “sport and recreation experience”, derived from the interplay of people, place and process. All operations provide goods and services by devising processes which transform or change the state or condition to produce an output. As such, sport and recreation activities are no exception. The sport and recreation operations manager is responsible for the activities, decision-making and duties associated with managing this transformation process. Usually this process takes place within a “facility”. This physical asset usually costs a great deal to buy or build, and then requires regular maintenance to ensure that all the fixture, fittings and services are kept in good working order. Effective operations managers will keep the resulting facility’s total life cycle costs down.

Another unit aim is to enable students to be able to assess the influence of the design and location of a sport and recreation facility on its operations management. The planning of the design and location of the facility will greatly influence what goods and services can be successfully provided in it. Moreover, these goods and services have technical characteristics that require effective risk management, particularly, of health and safety issues.

Main Topics of Study:

Sport and Recreation in Context

• The sport and recreation service encounter.
• Sport and recreation narrative.
• Sport and recreation venue management.

The Design of Sport and Recreation Facilities

• Facilities planning.
• Managing human resources in sport and recreation.
• Managing queues.
• Service quality.
• Service productivity and Best Practice in the sport and recreation industry.

Inventory Management Operations Strategy

• Economics of sport and recreation.
• Supply and demand.
• Sport revenue management.
• Ticket operations in a professional sports team setting.
• Sports events: the planning process.
• Strategic planning.
• Risk management.
• Legal and ethical issues in the design and delivery of sport and recreation facilities.

Learning Outcomes for the Unit

At the end of this Unit, students will be able to:

1. Understand the effect of design on the operations of sport and recreation facilities
2. Understand the main operations management techniques used in sport and recreation services
3. Apply good practice to sport and recreation facilities design
4. Apply sport and recreation operations management techniques

Learning and teaching  methods/strategies used to enable the achievement of learning outcomes:

Learning takes place on a number of levels through lectures, class discussion including problem review and analysis. Formal lectures provide a foundation of information on which the student builds through directed learning and self managed learning outside of the class. The students are actively encouraged to form study groups to discuss course material which fosters a greater depth learning experience.

Assessment methods which enable student to demonstrate the learning outcomes for the Unit:

Examination: 3 hours duration

Indicative Reading for this Unit:

Main Text:

McMahon-Beattie, U. and Yeoman, I., (2004). Sport and leisure operations management. London: Thomson.

Alternative Texts and Further Reading
Beech, J., and Chadwick, S., (2004). The Business of Sports Management. Harlow: Prentice Hall

Taylor, P (Ed)., (2010) Torkildsen’s Sport and Leisure Management. Abingdon: Routledge.

Westerbeek, H., (2005). Managing sport facilities and major events. Abingdon : Routledge

Useful websites
Beech and Chadwick. The Business of Sport Management (2004) book companion website: http://www.booksites.net/download/chadwickbeech/index.html

Taylor. Torkildsen’s Sport and Leisure Management (2010) companion website: http://cw.routledge.com/textbooks/taylor

Guideline for Teaching and Learning Time (10 hrs per credit)

50 hours Lectures / Seminars / Tutorials / Workshops:
Tutorial support includes feedback on assignments and may vary by college according to local needs and wishes.

50 hours Directed learning:
Advance reading and preparation / Class preparation / Background reading / Group study / Portfolio / Diary etc

100 hours Self managed learning:
Working through the course text and completing assignments as required will take up the bulk of the learning time.  In addition students are expected to engage with the tutor and other students and to undertake further reading using the web and/or libraries.